Senate Dems Accuse Trump of Taking the American People ‘Hostage’

Two Democratic senators accused President Donald Trump on Friday of “taking the American people hostage” in reference to the partial government shutdown and debate over a border wall.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono said it is impossible to negotiate with Trump on the issue.

“This is a hostage situation,” she said. “For the past three weeks, Donald Trump has held 800,000 federal workers, tens of thousands of contractors, and thousands of small businesses hostage to extort money for his vanity wall.”

Later in the day, Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin echoed Hirono’s comments about Trump while speaking on “MSNBC Live.”

“He’s taking the American people hostage,” Cardin said. “And he keeps on undermining the people negotiating on his behalf.”

The shutdown entered its 21st day Friday as Trump and Democratic lawmakers remain divided on border security funding. Over 800,000 furloughed federal government workers will go without a paycheck on Friday, although the Senate passed a measure Thursday to ensure they receive their paychecks when the government reopens.